How well do you know your bible? Do you read it?

Question

It amazes me how many times this Christian god orders the killing of innocent people even after the Ten Commandments said "Thou shalt not kill".

The god of the bible also allows slavery,child abuse and bashing babies against rocks.

This type of criminal behaviour should shock any moral person. This cannot be justified by saying that some god says it"s ok.

If more people would actually sit down and read the bible there would be a lot more atheists like myself.

Judges 11:29-40
Isaiah 13:16
Hosea 13:16
Psalms 137.9
2 Kings 10:18-27

Answer 1

I got my Bible from a hotel but later I found all the pages were stuck together with something!!! ...ewww!!! there's a lot of horrible stuff in the Bible.

Answer 2

Lectio Divina


Method
Lectio is typically practiced daily for one continuous hour. A selection from the Holy Scriptures is chosen ahead of time, often as a daily progression through a particular book of the Bible.


Time
Selecting a time for lectio divina is important. Typical methods are to pray for one hour in the morning, or to divide it into two half-hour periods, one in the morning and one in the evening. The key is to pre-select the time that will be devoted to the prayer, and to keep it. Using the same time every day leads to a daily habit of prayer that becomes highly effective.


Place
The place for prayer is to be free from distractions. This means it should be isolated from other people, telephones, visual distractions, etc. Some find a religious icon to be helpful. The same place should be used for lectio if possible, especially as one first begins to practice it. Familiarity with a location reduces the possibility of distraction away from the prayer. Some practitioners conduct other devotions, such as praying before the Catholic Eucharist, as a preparation for Lectio Divina.


Preparation
Prior to reading, it is important to engage in a transitional activity that takes one from the normal state of mind to a more contemplative and prayerful state. A few moments of deep, regular breathing and a short prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the prayer time helps to set the tone and improve the effectiveness of the lectio.

Once the stage is set it is time to begin the prayer. There are four phases of the prayer, which do not necessarily progress in an ordered fashion. One may move between different phases of the prayer very freely as the Spirit guides.


The Four Moments

Lectio
Read the passage slowly several times.


Meditatio
Reflect on the text of the passage, thinking about how to apply to one's own life. Gravitate to any particular phrase or word that seems to be of particular import. This should not be confused with exegesis, but is a very personal reading of the Scripture and application to one's own life.


Oratio
Respond to the passage by opening the heart to God. This is not primarily an intellectual exercise, but more of the beginning of a conversation with God.


Contemplatio
Listen to God. This is a freeing oneself from one's own thoughts, both mundane and holy. It is about hearing God talk to us. Opening our mind, heart and soul to the influence of God. Any conversation must allow for both sides to communicate, and this most unfamiliar act is allowing oneself to be open to hearing God speak.

Answer 3

In the OT it was cool for God to smite, as that is what the people that wrote those books wanted their God to be/do. The people that still believe in the OT still want the same things.

NT believers usually profess to believe in "love" and forgiveness.

But in the end, you should try to remember that men wrote the Bible. The educated and literate men that had power. They created the characters and stories in the book to use as examples to maintain control and influence over the uneducated (and tried to keep them uneducated). The books were rewritten/editted by those in power throughout the ages to continue their control over people.

Answer 4

1 John 8:3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group
4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
13 The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."
14 Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.
16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.
17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
19 Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

1 Proverbs 20:7 The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"?
10 Differing weights and differing measures-- the LORD detests them both.
11 Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.

Answer 5

Christians pick and choose the real 'sweet and touching' stories the likes of the 'sermon on the mount'.

Judges 19 will just make them puke.

Answer 6

I think I know it pretty well. Though it is not my only choice to read. I also enjoy Dawkins and Harris. TJ is also good to read about too:

“Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear”
- Thomas Jefferson

Answer 7

"The god of the bible also allows slavery,child abuse and bashing babies against rocks"

Slavery I know about but please read in context.

Child abuse and bashing babies against rocks? Please provide reference (books, chapter and verses).

I know only about the OT (being Jewish).

Answer 8

Ive read the bible several times thank you. I know of all the parts you think are so terrible. God has absolutely no mercy for the enemies of His people. I don't have a problem with that.

Answer 9

If most people thought like you there would be no jews, no christians, no muslims, no religious wars, Yippee!!!

Of course there would still be scientoligists like tom cruise, ugh.

Answer 10

actually... if people were to really sit down and read it, understand it, and follow it there would be a lot more christians. Instead, people like yourself go in there for the sole purpose of finding fuel for the fire.